Markup View

Author: kjnoren

Jun 28th 2012 at 4:34:20 AM

I like the name, but the trope description is rambling and misses the point.

How about:

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Want to know who is TheHero and leader of a group? Look for the guy with the sword!

In many cultures, swords were the domains of the mighty warriors and nobles -- no-one else could afford them or have the time to gain proficiency with them. Thus the sword has become the symbol of codes of honour like chivalry or bushido, and with values like nobility, leadership, justice, and power. The character wielding the sword is shown as the leader of the persons wielding axes, spears, or bows -- all weapons more associated with the commoners.

This trope is evoked in real life. Parade dresses of officers and the regalia of royalty often include swords. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Degradation_alfred_dreyfus.jpg Sword-breaking ceremonies]], when an officer is stripped of their rank, also draw on this trope.

Subtrope of WeaponOfChoice. If used in modern or futuristic settings, this becomes an example of an AnachronisticWeaponUser.
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While StarWars gives a very good example of this trope, I don't think we should use that as the trope image, since that'd open up for confusion with AnachronisticWeaponUser (which sometimes overlap with or draw from this trope). The Fellowship of the Ring doesn't really work, since most of the characters use swords.